Rough Play

It was disappointing to see the lack of self control on the court last night. It contributed to us losing the game in my opinion. Don't the boys know it is one of Melbournes game tactics to stir up the players into creating fights and then fouls. They did in in game 1, (Deng/Doyle), they tried it in game 2, luckily the ref's were on top of it and it didn't work and they did it very successfully last night. (Soby/Drimic). Focus on the prize boys and do what Joel and Ben do when opposition try to stir them up. LAUGH AT THEM.!!!!By the way I don't think Soby headbutted. My TV showed forehead to forehead and Soby trying to get away when surrounded by ten opposition players...

Melbourne has also been fined a total of $1,125 for two separate incidents involving Carrick Felix. This includes a $375 fine for engaging in a melee at half time and an additional $750 fine for unsportsmanlike behaviour after the game.

Felix has been banned from sitting on the Melbourne United team bench area for games four and five and must not enter the playing area at any stage until the game concludes and all formalities are finished.

So effectively according to the 'headbutting' penalties, the 3 incidents were exactly the same. Yet Sobey was ejected and Melbourne were given the benefits of an unsportsmanlike foul to begin the second half. Meanwhile, Prather and Wesley were penalised..... nothing! Gee, that had no impact on a 3 point match

So is there any explanation from the nbl as to why Sobey was ejected but Wesley wasn't, 'the refs didn’t see it’ is clearly not a possible defence because the video shows it was right in front of Mayberry and he was looking at it.

Hang on, I missed that Prather got charged with haedbutting too which also would require an explanation as to why he wasn't also ejected? Again, the defence can’t be that the refs didn’t see it as they ejected Sobey off of video review? Plenty to explain here still for the NBL, with these rulings, they are essentially admitting the Sixers got screwed over with the ejection of Sobey.

Seems like the referees can make unfair decisions (Sobey/Wesley) without any recourse. There should be a penalty in these situations where obvious bad decisions give or may give one team a definite advantage.Perhaps an off court adjudicator who can reverse a bad decision might be a good option in a final series.

Vaughan Mayberry, -- unfortunately IMHO he is closing out his long officiating career as vast disappointment. Saw Wesley contact Sobey, deemed it unnecessary to call as there was "no disadvantage or advantage".

You will also see Vaughan almost automatically cover his mike on many many occasions. This is not a good look.

Deemed it necessary to emphatically call the Drimic/Goulding contact from the far side of the court, without any personal vision of the gap between the players, and without checking with the the trail ref on that side - who had full vision of the contact and had not called anything, but would have called a flop in Goulding - which is why Vaughn was unable to talk the crew into making his call intentional , unsportsmanlike or a disqualifying act, as he did try to do.

Then hes trongly argued that "Sobey had to go" in the ejection discussion.

Crouch/Smyth discort/disrespect was an open secret in the league in the 80's, but it was never allowed to affect a finals series, shame this has been left to fester.

Vaughn needs a holiday away. He's not corrupt nor incompetent, it just a personal bias which shows as a failure to give the benefit of any doubt whenever thoseparticular persons are involved, and against 2 particular 36ers (and others in other teams) - that he vehemently denies, but which is fairly obvious to the other officials.

he will officiate again tomorrow as to replace him (and only him) is now polically impossible

I dont really talk about what happens during games (i prefer off court stuff personally). However I have seen enough of Adelaide and their undisciplined ways. It starts with Joey Wright. The man needs to chill out and stop playing the victim card. Does it too often and am pretty sick of it now. He obviously has beef with hoe the NBL is run. Maybe he should just go.

You're obviously a Melbourne fan Haz. Maybe you should look at the flopper mentality that Dean Vickermann encourages in his team. Joey Wright has performed well under very bias umpiring conditions particularly game #1 and #3. And we almost made it last night even with the bad decisions.The foul count in game #2 where Melbourne didn't get away with too much flopping and fouling is a good example that this game plan doesn't always work away from Melbourne. I just hope that fair refereeing is the case in game #4, otherwise it just make the finals series a traversty.

Perth fan (probably makes it worse lol). No, i get what your saying. The point of my post has a lot to do with how Adelaide go about their business in general (not necessarily highlighting last nights game).

For mine, Wright consistently calls out on Melbourne's ownership situation and apparent bias with the NBL. He then goes on a victim mentality which rubs off on his players. Seen it many times before.

"If your going to try and pot the guy maybe you could get the actual mechanics of the call and what actually happened correct."

people have been complaining about the official mechanics in the NBL for quite some time, perhaps if you go and check the visual on the video, you may notice that there is a split second shot from the baseline camera directly back down the court , where you can see Drimic on the right with Goulding approching on the left of the frame, with Aylen clearly visible in the far background directly in line with the "gap" .

Vaughn may well have "officially" had responsabilty for the entire half court, but he was still un-sighted in respect of that gap.

But then why should ref's watch the gap when they just need to hit their marks on the court and stay there for the play to come to them. ?

HazA few minutes ago17:04 24 Mar 18

Reply #680141re: Rough Play The point of my post has a lot to do with how Adelaide go about their business in general (not necessarily highlighting last nights game).

For mine, Wright consistently calls out on Melbourne's ownership situation and apparent bias with the NBL. He then goes on a victim mentality which rubs off on his players. Seen it many times before."

I agree 100% , it would be better if Wright could just let the ownership "issue" go, and coach that would be far better all round.

No don't agree Haz. Joey has everyright to feel hard done by in this series and even in the Perth game were very lucky to finish in game 2, but good games and reasonably fair reffing. What I don't like in NBL basketball in particular is encouraging dirty play by a few coaches and the referees supposed inability to keep a lid on it. Look at the NBA...tech fouls all over the place for flopping and foul mouthing.

Cairns fan here. Sobey initiates the contact and flails his body around, and constantly gets the calls. It is not good basketball, it is being bailed out. He is a little short between the ears, just like Drmic, and that ultimately will be what brings Adelaide undone. But you can cry about the refs, LK, team roster composition, etc. for another 12 months like you are justified if that helps you sleep at night. But if you want the true reason why you are down 2-1, just look in the mirror.

Anonymous you're talking in riddles. If you want to talk about flailing bodies, just look at Goulding..he's a master..but if they get away with it they'll keep doing it. I agree with Breakers Anon, (1) Hodgson usually has 2-3 fouls in the 1st quarter playing in NBL games, can play a full game for the Boomers, maybe 2-3 fouls for full game.(2) you are never going to stop coaches complaining, just look at every other league across the world.

I coach kids - u12 VC, domestic, school teams and in private academy setting. No one seems to conceive that the complaining antics of every adult player, fan, coach against every single ref call going against them/their team is seriously affecting the behaviour of very young players. I see that every single game now. Kids as young as 9 contesting travel calls, coaches getting mad at refs, parents hurling abuse. Way to set up an example - let the players play, the coaches coach and the refs ref. We all make mistakes.

The NBL do nothing to address the obvious lack of quality and consistency of the officiating. There is obviously no way coaches can discuss issues behind the scenes with league officials (not just Wright). The refs are getting worse not better. The buck stops with the NBL.

If you think kids are being influenced by nbl teams, try watching curry and the golden stste warriors. Think they're probably influenced a bit more by their (and other nba stars) petulance than anything happening here.

Have to agree with coach Al. My children played district BB 25 yrs ago...parents no different then, but players and coaches did not contest refs decisions. NBA players and coaches contests decisions, but if they go too far, they are tech fouled. 2x and you're out of the stadium.

Udog this year the NBL is doing a lot in regards to referee standards and development.

Can they do more, yes but they need to invest more resources to do that.

The issue they currently have is the lack of development for 10+ years by the previous NBL structure, BA and the State bodies. The referees in the NBL now just haven't got the base of development. The NBL teams are also deeper than they have been for a long time, and the behaviour issues mentioned here already (flopping and verbal) are things the NBL and Clubs need to be on board with as well.

The depth of refereeing can't happen over night its a generational thing.

The NBL and other Elite competitions are suffering now because of the mismanagement of others.